Program clock



D. D. SNOW PROGRAM CLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 18, 1953 Filed Feb. 18, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 awn/whoa July 23, 1935.. D W 2,009,03Q

PROGRAM CLOCK Filed Feb. 18, 1935 '4 sheets-Sheet 5 D 862 61 n Z1 5220M ao' w July 23, 1935. D D. sNow 2,00%,030

PROGRAM CLOCK Filed Feb. 18, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 23, 1935 I UNITED STATES PATENT IIVOFFICE 2,009,030 moGn M 'otoon Deskin D. Snow, Corpus Christi, Tex. 7 Application February 18, .1933, Serial ,No. 657,427 9 Claims. (01'. zooes This invention relates toan improved program clock.

One object of the invention is to provide a program clock which may be set for ringing bells or '5 closing circuits to other electrical devices at predetermined times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a program clock employing a switch which is mechanically connected with the alarm mechanism of the clock also that the setting off of the alarm will open all of the circuits simultaneously at a predetermined time. 4

A further object of the invention is to provide a program clock wherein a push button is incor porated in each of the several circuits employed so that said circuits may be closed independently of time control mechanism.

A still further object is to provide a program clock wherein a movable contact switch adapted for closing a circuit connected therewith at pre-,

determined mixed intervals is employed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be rugged in construction and which will operate efficiently over a long period of timewithout attention.

Other and incidental objects of the invention, not specifically mentioned in the foregoing, will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the entire device, V

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the device with the clock removed,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the complete device, I

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the movable contact-switch employed,

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure '7 is a side elevation showing one of the fixed contact switches employed,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the fixed contact switch taken on the line 8-8 of Figure '7,

Figure 9 is a vertical detail sectional view of the movable contact switch on the line 99 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is enlarged front elevation of the cut out switch employed showing. the switch in closed position,

Figure 11 is anienlarged front elevation sho' ing the out out switch in open position,

Figure 12 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on-the line l2--l2 of Figure 10, and

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuit employed.

7 Referring more particularly to the accompanyingdrawings in which like numerals of reference designatelike parts in the several views, the numeral l indicates in general a casing which isiormedof wood or-other suitable material. The casing l is provided with a hinged front wall 2, end walls 3 and 4, arear wall -5 and a hingedly connectedtop 6. Closing the bottom of the casing is a relatively thick base 1 which is provided at each corner with feet 8. Carried on the end walls 3 and 4,,near their upperends, are latches '9 which are adapted for normally retaining the top in closed position Mounted in the casing l is ;a longitudinally cxtending'partition H] which is iormed of wood-or other suitable material. The

partition extends throughout the entire length and height of the casing and is provided intermediate its length with an arcuate cut away portion H Mounting thepartition within the compartment 16- being provided at the rear of thecasing and a relatively small compartment l1 beingdefinedat the forward end of the casing. Carried on the front wall 2 of the casing is a clock Hi, The clock is provided with a time mechanism windingkey l9 and an alarm mechanism winding key 20. By referring to Figures 10 and ll of the drawings, it'will be noted that the oppositely; disposed outer end portions of the alarm winding key are bent toward each other, as indicated by the numeral 2 I, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described in detail.

The clock is provided with the usual time setting stem 22.. However, the stem 22 is provided with an offset arm 23- having a rearwardly projecting stud 24 at its outer end. The clock mechanism itself is of conventional design and the usual alarm controlling features are preferably embodied therein. As will be observed on reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, the front wall 2 of the casing is cut to permit the disclosure of the entire clock face and, if desired, the front wall may be ornamented in any suitable manner. The clock is preferably held in place in the front wall by means of brackets 25 and by removing these brackets the clock may be, of course, removed from the front wall of the casing. When it is desired to set the clock or wind either the time mechanism or the alarm mechanism, it is only necessary to release the hooks I 3 from the screws 14 and swing the front wall 2 downwardly away from the casing, when access may readily be gained to the keys l9 and 20 and to the setting stem 22.

Mounted in the compartment l 6, medially of its length, is a transversely disposed drum 26. The drum is preferably hollow and is formed from an insulating material and is of substantially the same diameter as the effective diameter of the clock face. Mounting the drum in the compartment i6 is a shaft 21, one end of which is journaled in the rear wall 5 of the casing and the other end of which extends through the partition into the compartment l1. Spacing the drum from the rear wall 5 and the partition 10 are washers 28. The shaft 21 is mounted axially with respect to the time setting stem 22 of the clock. Removably carried on the shaft 21 is an arm 29 which is slotted at its end, as indicated by the numeral 30,

to receive the stud 24. The arm 29 is held in position on the shaft by means of a locking screw 3 i. It will be understood that, as the time setting stem 22 rotates for carrying the minute hand of the clock in the usual manner, the offset arm 23 will cooperate with'thearm 29 forrotating the drum. In view of the fact that the arms 23 and 29 are employed, any slight variation in irrespective location of the shaft 21 and the stem 22 will be taken up by virtue of the fact that the stud 24 will slide laterally in the slotted end 30 of the arm 29.

Formed in the ends of the drum 26 are annular straight slots 32 and 33. Formed in the drum and extending about the drum between the slots 32 and 33 is a continuous spiral slot 34, the end of which extends into a straight annular slot 35 which is located in close parallelspaced relation to the slot 33; Removably inserted in the drum 26, at various points, are pins 36, The drum is provided with openings to receive the pins and these openings are located in spaced relation about the drum at points corresponding with the divisions on the clock face. In other words, the

pins in the drum adjacent-the slot 32 and 33 may be placed in alinement with oneor more numerals on the clock facejwhile the pins on the drum adjacent the turn of the spiral slot may be located at different intervals. The purpose of th s construction will be described in detail hereinafter. 7

Mounted within the compartment l6 of the casing, inparallel spaced relation to the shaft 21, is a fixed arm supportingshaft 38,,"one'end of which is journaled in therear wall 5 of the casing and the other end of which is journaled through the partition ill. Mountedon the shaft 38 is a spacing sleeve 39. Swingingly mounted 'on the shaft 38 is a pair of switches, which are indicated in general by the numeral 40. One of the switches is swingingly mounted on one end oft-he shaft 38, while the otherjof said switches is mounted on the other end of the shaft 38, and, inasmuch as these two switchesare identical in construction; adescription of one will sufiice for both.

A typical switch includes a body 4! which is relatively high, near its inner-end, and is gradually reduced in heighttoward its outer end, the

is connected with the body 4!. Figure? of the drawings, it will be seen that'the outer end being provided with a depending tongue 42 whichisadaptedto engage in the slot 32 or 33, depending upon whichend of the shaft this typical switch is mounted. Mounted on the 7 body 4|, at each side thereof near its inner end and journaling the shaft 33, are insulating blocks 43, which blocks mechanically connect the body with the shaft 38 and electrically insulate said body therefrom. The blocks are formed of bakelite, hard rubber, or other suitable insulating material, and are connectedv by pins 44; Mounted on the body 4 I, at opposite sides thereof, and near theblocks 43, are insulating plates E5 and 46.

Extending through the body and clamping the plates firmly to said body, at opposite sides thereof, are rivets 47 which do not come into electrical contact with the body 4| for the reason that the openings through which the rivets extend are relatively large. Riveted to the body 4! and extending throughout substantially the outer half of its length is a spring contact member 48 having a contact 49 which extends beneath the body at its narrowest portion and in close spaced relation to the tongue 42. Overlying the insulating plate '46 and extending in parallel spaced relation to the body 44 throughout its length is a laterally shiftable spring contact arm 5% having its outer end extending past the tongue 52 and is reduced in height toward its outer end and curved away from the longitudinal plane of the body to form a pin engaging finger 5i Carried on the arm 58 is a contact 52 which is'adapted to'make contact with the contact 49 on the contact member 48. Overlying the arm 59, at its inner end and held in position by one of the rivets All, is' a link 53 which is provided with an aperture 54 to receive a conductor wire, a portion of which is indicated by the numeral 55. On reference to Figure 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the innermost of the rivets M is the greater in length to accommodate the link 53. A conductor wire, a portion of which is indicated by the numeral 56, Referring to finger 5! of the spring contact arrn 5B is curved at its lower edge to conform to the shape of the drum 26. It will be seen also that, as the drum rotates, certain of the pins will engage the finger 5i and will swing the contact arm 5! toward the body 4! so that the contact 52 will electrically 1 connect with the contact 39. An electrical circuit through the conductors 55 and 56 will thereby be completed. The electrical connections for the various circuits will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Spacing the switches 48 from the end wall 5,

medially between said shaft and the end wall 4 is a shaft 58. The shaft is located above the horizontal plane of the shaft 33 and has one of its ends journaled in the rear wall 5, the other of its ends being journaled through the partition I 6.. Fixed on the shaft 58, near the end wall 5, is a sleeve 59.

Mounted on the partition Hi, i Within the compartment I7, is a journal bracket 7 pin engaging finger 11.

'is an apertured post 8|.

69 which journals the ends the shafts 38=and 58. The journal bracket is preferably formed from sheet metal and is bent into shape. Siidable on the shaft 58 is a movable contact switch, which is indicated in general'by the numeral 91, and is best seen in Figures and 6 oi the draw ing-s. -The movable contact switch SI comprises a body 62 which is spread and bifurcated, as in,- dicated at the numeral 93. Slidably connecting the body with the shaft 58 is an insulating block 84- having a sleeve-65 extending laterally therethrough. Connecting the bodywith the block are pins- 66. As best seen in Figure 9- oi the drawings, the body is provided with an arm-91', which is bent laterally at its upper margin, as indicated by the numeral 68. Mounted on the arm 61, near the body 62 at either side thereof, are insulating plates 69 and which are formed of fiber or other suitable material. Connecting the plates to the arm 61 are rivets I I, one of said rivets being of greater length than the other.

'As'best seen in Figure 6 of the drawings, the

openings in the arm are large enough to permit the rivets II to pass therethrough without making contact with the arm 61. Mounted on the arm 61 is a contact member 12 having a contact 13, which extends through a cut away portion in the arm 61. Formed on the end of the arm 6? is a tongue 14 which is adapted to engage in the slot 34 of the drum- 26. The member 12 extends substantially half the length of the arm "il and is connected thereto at its inner end by rivets Mounted on the insulating plate 10 and electricallyinsulated from the arm 61 is a longitudinally extending spring contact member I6 which is reduced and curved at its outer end to provide a Overlying the inner end of the spring contact member 16 is a link 10 the rivets '10, both of which rivets secure the spring contact member 16 in overlying relation to the block 10. Formed in the link I0 is an opening 19 which is adapted to receive the end portion of a conductor, such end portion being indicated by the numeral 80.

Mounted on one of the bifurcated portions 83 Mounted in the compartment IT, on the end wall 4 of the casing, is a weight guide box 82 having ayoke 83 at its upper end. Carried by the yoke is a pulley 84. Slidexerts a lateral pulling stress on the movable contact switch BI so that when the switch isinitially placed in the groove M, as the drum is rotated. the switch will follow the groove throughout its length. The switch 6| operates in a manner similar to the switches 40, that is to say, the pin engaging finger "I1. engages pins which are placed on the drum at spaced points. when the pins engage the finger TI, the spring contact member is shifted for engaging its contact with the contact 13 from the contact member I2. Electrical contact is made through thecontact members I2 and 1G in a manner identical with the manner employed with the fixed switches 40.

Mounted on the partition I0, within the compartment I'l', near one end thereof, is an alarm controlled switch. which is indicated in general are pairs of binding posts I05. the binding posts are push button switches I06.

by the numeral 80. The switch 08 comprises a circular base 89 which is preferably formed of insulating material. The base 89 is secured to the partition IB- by means of screws 90. Mounted on thebase- 89, near the margin thereof, are preferably three pairs of spaced contact points 9!. Mounted on the base 89, axially thereof, is a circular blade carrying disk 92 and carried on said disk are preferably three bridging blades 93, each blade being adapted to coact with a pair of contacts SI on the base 89. Connecting the blades 93- to the disk 92 are rivets 94. Spacing the disk from the base 89 is a washer 95. Securing the disk 92 to the base is a screw 96 which is sunk into the wall of the partition It) for providing axial support for the switch. Spacing the switch from the wall of the partition I0 are bushings 91 and extending through the bushings are the Wood screws 90 which secure'the base 89 to the partition I0. Mounted on the disk 92 is a bracket 99 which is secured to the disk by means of rivets I00. Carried by the bracket 59 is a pin IN and rotatable about the pin is a roller I02, the outer end'of the pin I'OI being provided with a head I03 which will prevent lateral displacement of the roller I02 on the pin IOI. As best seen in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, the roller 102 is adapted to be engaged by the rotating winding key of the clock i8, it being noted that the bent end portions of the winding key will engage the roller in such a manner that, after the winding key has swung the disk, said key will be permitted to continue in its travel. Mounted on the base 89, near the periphery of the disk 92, are spaced stop pins I04. It will be noted that these pins will limit the travel of the bridging blades. V

Mounted on the walls 3, 4' and 5 of the casing, Connected with Inasmuch as the push button switches are of identical construction, the description of one will sufiice for all. More specifically, the push button switches comprise an onset contact strap I01 and a spring contact strap I08 which is provided with a push button I09 which extends through the wall'ot the casing. In order to short circuit the binding posts and close a circuit connected to the binding post, irrespective of the time controlled mechanism within the casing, it is only necessary to press the button I 09 for engaging the spring contact strap I08 with the offset contact strap I01.

By referring to the diagrammatic view, as shown in Figure 1.3 of the drawings, it will be seen that'one of the posts of a pair of binding posts I05 is electrically connected with one of the fixed switches by means of the conductor 56.

.The conductor 55 leads from this fixed switch to a contact of one of the pairs of contacts on the base 89 of the switch 88. The other contact of said pair is connected to the first mentioned pair of binding posts: by means of a conductor I Hi. It

is to be understood that, while no electrical device is shown as being connected to this particular set ofbinding'p sts, any suitable device, as for instance, a bell, or radio set, may be connected to this pair of binding posts. A binding post of a second set of binding posts I05 is electrically connected to one of the contact members of the -movablecontact switch by the conductor 80.

The other contact arm of said movable switch being electrically connected to a point of a second set of contact points on the base 89 by means of a conductor III. A conductor I I2 electrically lit) connects the other post of the second mentioned set of binding posts with the other of the second mentioned set of contact points. The second mentioned pair of binding posts may be connected to any device which it is desired to control.

.The second fixed switch is connected to one of the posts ofthe third set of binding posts'by means of a conductor H3. A- conductor H4 which is connected in the same manner as the conductor 56 connects the fixed switch with one of the points of the third pair of: points on the base 89. The other points of said pair being electrically connected to the remaining binding posts of the third pair of binding posts by means of a conductor H5. For illustration, I have shown a bell, such as is indicated by the numeral H6, and a battery H1 in the circuit with this third pair of binding posts. It is to be understood that, while a bell is shown, any other device to be controlled ,may be placed in the circuit and furthermore,

the secondary of atransformer may be substituted for the batteries. r

In use, circuits to be controlled are connected to the pairs'of bindingposts, one-circuit being utilized with each pair of posts. When it is desired to close a circuit intermittently over agiven period of time and then repeat continually, the circuit to be thus controlled is connected to one of the pairs of binding posts which is connected with one of the fixed switches. Pins 36 are then inserted inthe drum at points on its periphery which correspond to points on the clock face. It will thus be seen that, as the drum 26 rotates,

, the pin engaging fingerBl engages the pins for closing the contacts 49 and 52 and closing the circuit therethrough. As stated, the pins may be placed on the drum so as to ring at desired in- .tervals throughout the period of one hour and the circuit closing of the switch working in this groove will repeat the same schedule of intermittent ringing from hour to hour- This switch would be particularly adapted for use in ringing school'programs or working day programs, as the bells connected in this circuit would ring at the specified intervals throughout an entire day, if desired. The other fixed switchcould be connected in another circuit and it would be adapted for closing the other circuit at predetermined intervals. This switch, like theabove described fixed switch, would repeat from hour to hour.

With regard to the movable contact switch 6|,

it should be noted that in view of the fact that this contact works in the continuous groove 34, the circuit connected to said movable contact switch may be closed at intervals evenly divisible by sixty or the entire hour, as well as periods not evenly divisible'by sixty. From this statement, it will be seen that the movable switch may be utilized for closing a circuit connected thereto at various predetermined intervals throughout a day 'and without repetition. For example, the

movable contact switch could be utilized for ringing a bell circuit every half hour for three hours and then every hour for three hours and then every five minutes for two or three hours. This is only given by way of illustration and it should be clearly'understood that the movable contact switch may, by placing the pins at various points on the drum, be utilized for closing the circuit in many different ways. In other words, many combinations may be employed.

The alarm mechanism may be set by swinging the alarm control key, usually found on clocks, to the desired predetermined time and, when this time is reached, the alarm key 28 will swing into engagement withthe roller I02 for shifting the disk and swinging the bridging blades out of relation with the pairs of contacts 9i, thereby opening an of the circuits simultaneously. Thus it swinging the bridging blades 93 into bridging relation on the pairs of contacts. The front wall is then swung up'so that the stud 24 of the lever '23 is in engagement with the arm 29. The device is then ready for use and will operate to close the circuits in the same manner as described heretofore. The push button switches I06 may be employed at any time for closing the circuits and-for ringing a hell, or other devices, as for example, when it is desired to sound a bell for a fire drill, the push buttons may be employed without disturbing the setting of the time controlled mechanism.

As before stated, the device may beemployed for controlling three difierent circuits simultaneously and accurately; I

-It is believed that from the foregoing it will be understood that I have provided a simple, yet highly efficient program clock which may beset without-any trouble whatever.

I Having thus described the invention, 1; claim,

1. A program clock including a casing having a wall movable into and out of an upright position, a drum rotatable in thecasing and having slots, circuit closing means having a tongue extending into the slots to' cooperate therewith, a clock removably connected with the said wall of the casing and disposed within the casing and detachably connected with the drum for rotating the drum when the wall is upright, and means on the drum adjacent to the slots and cooperating position, a partition in the casing dividing the interior thereof into front and rear compartments,

a drum rotatable in the rear compartment and having a-shaft projecting through the partition and journaled thereby, a clock in the front compartment carried by and movable With'the front wallandhaving a time-setting stem in alinement with said shaft when. the front Wall is in its normal position, means for detachably connecting said stem'and shaft whereby said clock is adapted to rotate the drum, abutments carried on the drum at spaced points, and circuit closing means carried within the rear compartment and engageable with the abutments on the drum for closing an electrical circuit as the drum is rotated by the clock stem.

3. A program clock including a casing, a drum rotatable in said casing, pins carried by said 5 the switch, means for rotating the drum, and a weight connected with the switch for shifting the switch along the shaft longitudinally of the drum during rotation of the drum.

4. A program clock including a casing, a partition in the casing dividing the interior thereof into compartments, a drum rotatable in one of said compartments, pins carried on the drum, a shaft carried in the same compartment with the drum in parallel relation thereto, a switch carried on the shaft and having an arm engaging the drum, said switch having a spring contact member and a shiftable spring contact member, said shiftable spring contact member being engageable by the pins for closing an electrical circuit through the switch, means carried in the other of said compartments for rotating the drum, and a weight connected with the switch for shifting said switch longitudinally of the drum.

5. A program clock including a casing, a drum rotatable in said casing, a shaft mounted in the casing in parallel relation to the drum, pins on the drum, a movable contact switch tiltable about said shaft and slidable along the same longitudinally of the drum and having a shiftable spring contact member intermittently engageable by the pins for closing a circuit, means for urging said switch along said shaft towards one end thereof and shifting the switch longitudinally of the drum during rotation thereof, and a clock adapted to rotate said drum for intermittently closing the circuits through the switches as the drum is rotated.

6. A program clock including a casing, a drum rotatably mounted in said casing and having an annular slot, spaced pins removably carried in the drum near said slot, a contact switch tiltably mounted in the casing and having an arm provided with a tongue extending into the slot, a spring contact member carried by the arm, a shiftable spring contact member carried by the arm at the other side thereof and insulated therefrom and provided with a pin engaging finger at its free end, the contact members being normally spaced from each other, and means for rotating the drum whereby the pin engaging finger will successively engage the pin for moving the shiftable spring contact member toward the spring contact member and intermittently closing a circuit connected with the switch.

7. A program clock including a casing having a hinged wall, a partition in the casing dividing the interior thereof into compartments, a clock carried on said hinged wall and disposed in one of said compartments when the wall is in an upright position, said clock having a time-setting stem provided with a transversely extending arm having a stud, a rotatable shaft extending through the other of said compartments and having an end portion extending through the partition, an arm carried by the shaft in the first mentioned compartment and being slotted at its end to removably receive the stud, a drum carried by said shaft in the second compartment, abutments carried by said drum in spaced relation to each other circumferentially thereof, and circuit closing means mounted in the same compartment with the drum and including a switch normally open, the shaft being rotatable by the clock for turning the drum and moving the abutments into engagement with the switch for closing the switch and an electric circuit controlled thereby.

8. A program clock including a casing, a partition within the casing dividing the interior thereof into compartments, a drum carried within one of the compartments and having a continuous spiral slot, pins spaced upon the drum throughout its periphery and near the slot, a movable contact switch carried in the same compartment with the drum, said movable contact switch including an arm terminating in a tongue extending into the slot, a spring contact member carried on the arm and a shiftable contact member carried on the arm and insulated therefrom and provided with a pin engaging finger intermittently engageable with the pins for shifting the shiftable spring contact member toward the spring contact member for closing a circuit, a post mounted on the switch, a weight box carried in the other of said compartments, a weight in the weight box, a cord connecting the weight with the post, said weight being adapted for exerting a pulling stress on the switch, and means in the second mentioned compartment for rotating the drum.

9. A program clock including a casing, a drum rotatably mounted within said casing and having a continuous spiral slot, pins spaced upon the drum throughout the periphery and near the slot, a movable contact switch mounted in the casing adjacent the drum and including an arm terminating in a tongue extending into the slot, a spring contact member carried on the arm and a shiftable contact member carried on the arm and insulated therefrom and provided with a pin engaging finger intermittently engageable with the pins for shifting the shiftable contact member towards the spring contact member for closing a circuit, a post mounted on the switch, a weight, a cord connecting the weight with the post whereby the weight exerts a pulling stress on the switch, and means for rotating the drum.

DESKIN D. SNOW. [L. 8.] 

